I've had this thing for 17 years, picked up used and cheapish whilst I was in college. I have actually been very happy with this guitar (and still am), but am starting to doubt its origins as I come more and more familiar with vintage strats. I think it may be from the early 80s or so originally, maybe a replacement neck. Could be a Japanese copy, too.

Here is why I am suspicious:
Sold to me as a 1976 Japanese Strat.
Serial number is on headstock.
Neck Plate is blank (has "F" logo, no number)
Serial Number E559248 leads me to believe its from the 80's, but I don't recall any E5s, only 4s and 6s.
Says "Made In Japan" rather than "Crafted in Japan" as I have often seen. Text behind fret 16.
I have not viewed electronics, nor removed the neck.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Matt

There was no Fender Japan in 1976.
We'd need to see it to tell about anything else.

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No no and no

Hi mdhughes,

nikininja is right, Fender Japan started in '82 I believe. According to the Fender product dating site, the serial number indicates that your Strat was made around 84 to 87. Of course, that is just the neck, as you said it could be a replacement. I'll second the call for pictures.

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/japanese-instruments-product-dating

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

The Japanese E4, E5, E6 didn't mean exactly the same thing as the American E4, E8, etc.

There were MIJ in 1985 ... that's about all the Fenders there were in 1985, Japanese ones.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

As others have stated Fender Japan didn't start until 1982, and that serial places the guitar as being made sometime in the mid 80s.

Made in Japan is correct as Crafted in Japan didn't start until the 90s I believe when the FJ factory was changed